October Sonata tops Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards

A romantic drama about social-class conflict in 1970s Thailand won six out of 11 categories in the Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards (ชมรมวิจารณ์บันเทิง), which were announced last night at the Royal Thai Army Auditorium.

October Sonata won best picture and writer-director Somkiat Vituranich won the director and screenplay honors. Pitsanu Nimsakul won best supporting actor for his role as a pragmatic Chinese immigrant who marries but cannot win the heart of the film's starry-eyed heroine. October Sonata also won prizes for art direction and score.

Cris Horwang, the winsome leading lady of the GTH romantic comedy Bangkok Traffic (Love) Story was named best actress. Actor honors went to Paramej Noi-am for his role as an idealistic caring schoolmaster in the teen drugs drama Samchuk. The top acting prizes are a repeat from other awards shows, including the Starpics Awards and the Kom Chad Luek Awards.

October Sonata had been tied with Five Star's crime thriller Slice with nine nominations apiece. Slice was honored for editing.

Still to come are the Subhanahongsa Awards, the Thailand National Film Association Awards, which has Slice nominated in 14 of 16 categories, with October Sonata in the running for 11 awards. They'll be given out on March 28.

Here's the winners of the Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards:

• Best film: October Sonata (Ruk Tee Ror Kor), NGR
• Director: Somkiat Vituranich, October Sonata
• Actress: Sirin "Cris" Horwang, Bangkok Traffic (Love) Story (Rot Fai Fah Na Maha Ter)
• Actor: Paramej Noi-am, Samchuk
• Supporting actress: Jarinporn Junkiat, Dear Galileo (Nee Tam Galileo)
• Supporting actor: Pitsanu Nimsakul, October Sonata
• Screenplay: Somkiat Vituranich, October Sonata
• Cinematography: Chankit Chamnivikaipong, Nymph
• Editing: Sunij Asavinikul, Slice (Cheun)
• Art direction: Saksiri Chantarangsri and Wittaya Chaimongkol, October Sonata
• Score: Kaiwan Kulavadhanothai, October Sonata

(Via Thai Rath, Khao Sod)